When it comes to hydration, nothing gets the job done quite like a tall glass of water. But sometimes plain H2O just doesn’t cut it. The solution – transform it into a delicious glass of thirst-quenching flavored water.
Water makes up about 60% of your body weight. It helps regulate body temperature, carries nutrients and oxygen to cells, and protects your body’s organs and tissues by flushing toxins.
So how much water do you need each day for your body to function properly?
According to the Institute of Medicine, women should consume an average of approximately 2.7 liters (91 ounces) of total water each day, and men average approximately 3.7 liters (125 ounces) daily. While this might seem like a lot, remember that your body intakes water from eating food and drinking other beverages, too.
Most have heard the popular “8 by 8” rule that says to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. This adds up to about 1.9 liters, which isn’t far from the Institute of Medicine’s recommendations and it’s also easier to remember!
Naturally infused water is healthy and more exciting than your average glass from the tap. And, by adding fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs you reap even more benefits. If you’re looking for a way to motivate yourself to drink more water, try mixing it up with one of these six recipes.
Click the titles to expand for the full recipe.
Strawberry-Basil Water
The beautiful combination of strawberries and basil tastes just as good as it looks. Even better, the herbs provide iron and the strawberries are loaded with vitamin C, which has been linked to fighting cancer, wrinkles, and more. To make a drink that’s just right – start with fewer basil leaves and add more to your liking.
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- 1 pint Strawberries sliced
- 10 Fresh Basil Leaves torn
- 1 Lemon sliced
- 8 cups Water
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- Combine strawberries, basil and lemon in a large pitcher.
- Add the water.
- Refrigerate 2 to 4 hours.
Pineapple-Mint-Ginger
For a tropical refresher, try mixing together these tasty ingredients. Both mint and ginger have a long-standing reputation for relieving and promoting digestion while pineapple has a laundry list of benefits including arthritis management, improved oral and eye health, weight loss, and more.
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- 4 cups Pineapples thinly sliced
- 15 Mint Leaves lightly crushed
- Ginger sliced and smashed
- 8 cups Water
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- Combine pineapple, mint and ginger (about 8 slices) in a pitched.
- Add the water.
- Refrigerate 2 to 4 hours.
- Stir well and strain, discarding the solids.
- Add fresh pineapple, mint and ginger for garnish.
Jalapeño-Cucumber-Mint
Spice lovers rejoice… this zesty water is sure to kick-start your day! The cucumber helps reduce bloating while the jalapeño works to increase your metabolism and release endorphins. If you’re worried about this recipe being too spicy, you can add a touch of mint for a cooling taste.
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- 1 Cucumber sliced thinly
- 2 Jalapeño Peppers seeded and sliced
- Mint to taste
- 8 cups Water
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- Combine the cucumber, jalapeño and mint in a pitcher.
- Add the water.
- Refrigerate 2 to 4 hours.
Raspberry-Lemon
Adding lemon (or lime) to water is always delicious, but you can make it even better by adding fresh raspberries. The berries are packed with a variety of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients, which can help manage weight gain and type-2 diabetes, while the citrus has vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, potassium and more.
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- 2 cups Raspberries
- 8 cups Water
- 1 Lemon cut into half-inch slices
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- Combine raspberries and lemon in a pitcher.
- Add the water.
- Refrigerate 2 to 4 hours.
Orange Mango Rosemary Water
- 8 cups Filtered or spring water
- 1 large orange sliced
- 1 Mango chopped,
- 5 sprigs Fresh Rosemary
- Ice to taste
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- Combine
- Enjoy
- Add a squeeze of lime juice for a tart citrus twist.
Grapefruit Pomegranate Mint Water
- 1 Grapefruit thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup Pomegranate Seeds
- 10 torn mint leaves
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- In a large pitcher, combine fruit and mint. Bruise mint leaves slightly before adding, if desired.
- Add ice and fill container with water.
- Let sit for 10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to blend.
- Add additional fruit or herbs to garnish, if desired.
Blueberry Orange Water
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- 1/4 cup fresh blueberries
- 1 orange, sliced
- 4 cups Filtered or spring water
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- Muddle fruit with back of spoon to release natural flavors
- Cover with water and place in refrigerator for at least 12 hours.
- Serve over ice.
